Aeroplane construction



y 4, 1932 A. F. CALLISON 1,860,076

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION I Origihal Fil ed Nov.l1, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [MENTOR y 24, 1932- A. F. CALLISO N 1,860,076

'AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov.l1, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 2 TIERIVEYS m I W a 5 a & Z

. INVENTOR May 24. 1932. A. F. CALLISON' AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 11, 1925 4 Shets-Sheet I K m n INVENTOR A omens May 24, 1932. A. F. CALLISON V AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Fil ed NOV. 11, 1925 Patented May 24, 19 32 ABNER F. OALLISON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION Original application filed November 11, 1925, Serial No. 68,271. Divided and this application filed September 16, 1926.

ing particularly to the means for hoisting the container into the interior of the ship and the means for securing the contalners in place with provision for quickly releasing the containers in case of emergency. The frame work of dirigible airships contains many spaces therewithin which are not required for the gas cells. It is proposed to adapt these unused spaces for the reception of the containers. More particularly a hatchway may be provided in the lower part of the outer surface of the airship through which access may be had to the interior of the frame and above the hatchway amono-rail may be carried with the interior frame work upon which may travel suitable trolley carriers support- 'ing at all times the containers and capable of being fixed in position, if desired. In the event of emergency it may be found necessary to lighten the airship. For this purpose suitable releasing devices may be provided which will instantaneously release the lifting bales from the overhead support and allow the container to fall through the outer covering of the airship;

The invention has for a further object to adapt aeroplanes to the transportation of the container. It may be found preferable to load the container through the front end of the fuselage and to this end it is contemplated forming the tapering front end of the fuselage into separable sections, which, when separated disclose a space for the reception of the container. If desired, in the interest of a reduction in weight, no covering need be provided for the walls of the fuselage Serial No. 135,732.

forming the cargo space, the sidesof the container serving to continue the stream llne form of the fuselage with yielding means to engage the container and form weather proof joints. .Suitable securing devices are also contemplated which will rigidly secure the container within the cargo space. The container according to the present invention is Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the doors in open position and a cgntainer within the cargo space of the aerop. ane.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail views showing the means for supporting the container within the cargo space of an aeroplane and the means for securing the container in position.

Figure 6 is a detail view looking from above and showing fragmentary portions of the cargo space and container.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the structure disclosed at the left hand side of Figure 6 but looking from the, side of the aeroplane. d

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of another, modification of .an aeroplane according to the present invention adapted to receive the container through a side of the fuselage.

As has been pointed outhereinbefore the invention also contemplates the transfer of one of the containers in heavier-than-aircraft. The cargo space in an aeroplane adapted to. receive a container according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 through .7. The fuselage of an airship is indicated at z'supported upon the wings z" and propelled by spaced motors i disposed respectively upon opposite sides of the fuse-- lage. The container is adapted to be loaded into the plane from the front end .of the fuselage and to this end the stream-line" front-end of the fuselage is formed as a pair of sliding doors i shown in closed position in Figure 2 and in open position in Figure 3. InFigure 3 the container islillustrated within the cargo space which need not be formed line front end of the fuselage is formed as a pair of sliding doors 2' shown in closed positionin Figure 3. Vertical frame members which are preferably angle pieces are indicated at i which are spaced from one another as seen in Figure 1. Secured to the frame members 2" near the lower part of the cargo space is a supporting member in the form of an angle member 2' which serves as a track for the wheels .6 to support the container within the cargo space. Rearwardly of the cargo space and above the track i there is formed a plate i beneath which the protruding edge of the container formed by the angles a and a is adapted to slide and be engaged thereby to rigidly retain the 'container in position. The cargo space is also formed adjacent the end of the floor of the fuselage with a yielding bufier i which serves not only as means to absorb shocks caused by or incident to the loading of the container within the cargo space but which also seals the floorof the fuselage with respect to the bottom of the container. the cock pit of 'the aircraft is afforded throughg. door in the side thereof indicated in general at g which may be formed to pivot about the point 71 and which may extend beyond the point of the pivot as at. g to be formed at the outer end thereof with a yielding buffer member 9 to engage the corner of the container (1 to form a substantially air tight joint and continue the wall of the fuselage as will be understood.

" To secure the container within the cargo space suitable locks 7' are illustrated. These locks preferablv take the form of an arm 7 having a downwardly bent portion 7'" formed with an enlarged head 9' to engage a key-hole slot'a formed in'the front extended portion a. of the floor a.

upright members i of the fuselage and adapted to swing from a position without the fuselage to operative position indicated in Figures 4:, 5 and 6. The downwardly ex- Access to 0 The arm J is slidably mounted 1n a carrier j pivoted as at 3' to.

is provided shown-in Figures 4 and 5. Pivoted at suitable points to an angle piece i carriedwith the vertical members i of the fuselage are arms'i which are pivoted at their lower ends to a slotted member formed conveniently of angle pieces 7: and '2 form ing therebetween a slot 71 for the reception of a bracing member 11 This bracing member is secured to a slide i which isslidable between adjacent sides of angle pleces i'fi Figure 5 and at its rear end the bracing member is turned down as at 2' to form atrance of rain etc. within the cargo space.

.VVhen the container is in course of loading within the cargo space, the brace member 2' is raised in the following manner: A reach rod 71 is secured to the angle piece 5 Figure 5, and extends rearwardly to the pilot seat. By pulling the reach rod 2' rearwardly the slide 2' is drawn rearwa-rdly and upwardly by reason of the pivoted connect-ion between the arms 2' and angle 11 which causes the bracing member 71 to be raised; but inasmuch as the bracing member 2' is rigidly secured to the slide i" as by means of the angle piece i riveted to the brace 11? and to the slide 11" the brace i is only permitted a vertical movement suflicient to raise it out of the way of the bale al until the container is in place within'the cargo space after which the reach rod is. pushed forwardly and-thebrace 2' allowed to lower in engaging position with the front edge of the container 0. To secure the container "within the cargo space suitable locks are illustrated. These locks preferably take the form of an arm having a downwardly bent adapted to enter a slot such as a key-hole slot formed in the upper flange of the I-beam A and is then retracted within the slot by' means of the hand wheel or nut y' engaging the threaded nut i of the rod j. The wheels e of the container may, if desired, rest upon an angle piece 2' carried in the bottom of the fuselage.

)As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the plane has a platform 9 and steps 9 all within the fuselage, and an openingi g? in the upper part of the fuselage is provi ed to give ready accessto the platform from above. This enables an attendant toreceive containers from other ships in fli ht and to facilitate the transfer of cargo rom one plane to another.

The planes may'be equipped in addition with a reel and cable 1" by which articles may be lowered from the plane to a receiving plane.

In order to enable the pilot to position the plane properly, a telescope 1' is provided in thefloor of the'plane, and a mirror 7* enables him to sight through the telescope with ease;

Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the plane indicated in Figures 1 to 3 .wherein asingle propelling motor centrally of the fuselage is availed of. In this instance, provision is made for placing the container a within the fuselage through the side thereof. Thus a pilot may be seated forwardly of the cargo space while a mail clerk may occupy a compartment rearwardly of the container a. I The above serves as an illustration of various ways in which this invention may be employed but it isunderstood that other designs may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention, as outlined in the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. In an aeroplane whereof the fuselage is formed with a cargo space, means of access to the cargo space, locking means for the container within the cargo space, comprlslng a bearing member pivoted outwardly of the fuselage, a relatively movable hook-member to engage a key-hole slot formed in the container, and means to move the hook member relative to the bearing member.

2. In an aeroplane whereof the fuselage is formed with acargo space, a, container carried in the space, and means to secure the container to the fuselage, said means including means for bracing the fuselage structure. 3. In an aeroplane whereof the fuselage is formed with a cargo space, means of access .to the cargo space, comprising a sectional front end of the fuselage, means to movethe sections with respect to one another to expose the cargo space and sealing and bracing d means within the cargo space.

4." In an aeroplane whereofthe fuselage is formed with a cargo space formed with an opening, a closure for said opening, a brace supporting member capable of arcuate movement within the cargo space, a. bracing member for a container supported in the brace supporting member, and means to limit'the movement of the bracing member in a vertical direction. A 3

5. In an aeroplane whereof the fuselage is formed with a cargo space formed with an opening, I closure for saidopenin'g, a brace supporting member capable of arcuate movement of the bracing'member in a vertical direction, and a sealing membercarried with space, means of access from the fuselage .to-

thecargo space, seating means in the fuselage to receive the operator, a freight platform in the fuselage independent of the operators seat, and means of access from the platform to. the cargo space, the top of said fuselage being formed with an opening immediately above the platform. y

7. In an aeroplane whereof the fuselage is formed with a cargo space formed with an opening, a closure for sa1d opening, a brace supporting member capable of arcuatemovement within the cargo space, and a bracing member for a container supported in the brace supporting member.

8. A structure of the kind described comprising a fuselage having end doors,a bottomless chamber behind the doors, and a freight carrying container fitting the chamber of the fuselage and with the bottom of the container forming the bottom of the chambered part of the fuselage.

'9. An air craft having a fuselage with a chamber therein open at the front and bottom of the fuselage, a container fitting in the I chamber and with the bottom of the container forming the bottom of the corresponding part of the fuselage, and means'operable from the exterior of the fuselage for fastening the bottom part of the container to the fuselage.

10. An air craft having a fuselage with a chamber therein open at the front and bottom of the fuselage a stiffening frame at the ,lower sides of said chamber, a container having lower sides fitting against said stiffening frames and with a bottom forming the bottom of the chamber and corresponding part of the fuselage, and means for fastening the lower sides of the container to said stiffening frames.

' This specification signed this 13th day of Sept, A. D. 1926.

ABNER'F. CALLISON.

.ment within the cargo space, a bracing mem- 1 ber .for a container supported in the brace supporting member, means to limit the move- 

